The changing composition of the Australian workforce relevant to work-family issues

This paper will attempt to summarise the major demographic trends and changes in the Australian labour force and the types of environmental changes that organisational decision-makers have to interpret. The most significant changes are the increased number of women and part-time and casual employees in the workforce, the increasing diversity in family and living arrangements, and increased stresses and pressures on individual workers caused by job restructuring and workplace rationalisation. It is becoming increasingly important for organisational decision-makers to approach strategically the meaning and significance of these work-family changes for the design of jobs, careers and human resource policies. This has an impact on the policies for work-family arrangements made by organisations.